Film formation kinetics of polystyrene latex-based nanocomposites with a broad particle size distribution

The present study article aims to clarify the effect of colloidal polystyrene (PS) latexes with a broad particle size distribution on film formation kinetics of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-added polymer nanocomposites by considering theoretical film formation models. Experimentally, light transmitted from nanocomposite films, each having different weight fractions of MWCNT, was recorded at different annealing temperatures via UV-Visible spectrophotometry. Optical data set was then theoretically elaborated by taking into account void closure and Prager-Tirrell models. Activation energies of viscous flow (Delta H) and backbone motion for reptating PS chains (Delta E-B), minimum film formation (T-0) and healing (T-h) temperatures were then computed from optical data. Experimental results revealed that Delta H required for void closure phenomenon remained unaffected by both nanofiller and size distribution of latexes. On the other hand, it was found that Delta E-B for backbone motion promoted upon the addition of nano-fillers into latex particles. Our experimental findings suggested that film formation from MWCNT-added latex films with a broad particle size distribution mainly originates from void closure mechanism since Delta H for viscous flow suppresses Delta E-B acquired for backbone motion of repeating PS chains to a great extent.